A week or so ago I was in the elevator with a dog walker I have seen in the neighborhood a lot. Although I simply started out with a, “Good morning!,” we quickly got into a conversation about dogs. I explained how I was struggling with walking my dog, Ella, because she would bark at other dogs and lunge at them, but in a playful way that arguably doesn’t look so playful. “Mary” casually responded, “It’s you.” O.K., wow, that hurt. 

What “Mary” was saying was that my actions, although having very good intentions, were being misunderstood by Ella. When I would see another dog, I would pull Ella’s leash super tight to me so she couldn’t lunge, but in the dog world, shoulder to shoulder means the pack is protecting something. So every time I pulled her in, I sent an alarm to her that said, “PROTECT!” When I finally used Mary’s loose leash and diversion tactics, Ella calmed right. down. She’s not perfect, but we are making great strides. Thank you, Mary!

Mary’s tip should be in a Leadership Masterclass and it would fall under the category of, Counterintuitive but Brilliant Leadership Skills. A lot of what we do as leaders is wrong. I’m always asked to help by focusing on the bottom line. I’m often tasked with creating high performance teams. I usually hear about the company’s target and then the team’s. But if we focus on improving the individual’s skills and abilities, what happens then? What has happened in the past when a boss has brought out the best in you—when the boss cared more about you than the bottom line? You jumped through hoops for him or her, right? It’s human nature. No one ever really cares more about the company than they do about themselves, except when they are promoted to leader! Ah, and there’s the rub!

Let’s GO! WE GOT THIS!
BETH